From The Marbles

Matt Kenseth sets track record in Kansas qualifying

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Matt Kenseth snatched the pole from former teammate Carl Edwards and will start first in Sunday's STP 400 at Kansas Speedway.

Kenseth, the next-to-last car to qualify, went out two cars after Edwards and his lap of 191.864 MPH is a track record on the newly repaved and reconfigured surface. The previous record was set before last year's fall race in the first race on Kansas' steeper progressively banked track. This year, the combination of cool temperatures and a new car helped Kenseth break that record.

Ricky Stenhouse, the man who replaced Kenseth in the No. 17 when Kenseth moved to Joe Gibbs Racing before 2013, qualified third and Sam Hornish will start fourth in his first Cup start of the season.

Jeff Gordon crashed on his qualifying lap and will take the green shotgun on the field in a backup car. The back end of Gordon's car came around on him in turn two as he was in the throttle and the impact pancaked the rear of his car.